President's Message

Most if not all the elements which are causing the urban crisis in the Mainland are present today in Hawaii. Most of us like to think that they are present here to a much lesser degree and that therefore the crisis in American cities will not reach us for a while. I do not mean to say that we are not concerned with the grave problems which our country is facing, but we do tend to view them somewhat academically from our vantage point far across the Pacific.

In order to bring the study of human resources closer to our own lives the State Board has designated "The Crisis in the Cities" as the theme of this 4th Annual State Convention. It is the hope of the State Board that we can begin to see a useful role which the League can play in the state and in our communities.

A few nights ago I attended the Palama Settlement Annual Meeting dinner to get some perspective on the relationship of problems of disadvantaged people in Hawaii to those in the rest of the United States. A panel discussion had been announced. on the subject The Challenge to Hawaii: our two societies - "Separate and unequal" -- or local folks. Further described, it was to be "a discussion of the evidence that the gap in our local society between the 'coping' and the adequately functioning and the 'passed-16' and under functioning is widening at an increasing rate." The, invitation stated, "We know this is happening but our response is not adequate. What is demanded of us; of our society's institutions?"

Panel members couldn't have been more qualified to deal with the questions asked of them.

Mrs. Naomi Campbell, Moderator, referee of the Family Court

Dean Fred DelliQuAdri, dean of UH School of Social Work

Dr. John J. Blaylock, chief of mental health team for Courts &Corrections, Dept. of Health

Rev. Charles Crane,Rector, Church of the Holy Nativity

Dr. Steven T. Boggs, assoc, prof. of anthropology, Univ. of Hawaii

These people talked first about Hawaiians, then about the underprivileged, then the City and County, the State, and ultimately society. There needs to be a human revolution, they said. Up to now, solutions have been too late, and too little. They outlined many problems, and suggested some solutions for at least where to look for solutions). The point for us is that much work is not yet done. This is an area where there is still room for the League. The meeting I went to was the 62nd annual meeting of the Palama Settlement. Even though we may not have riots in the streets of Honolulu this summer, there is still a lot to be done.